Sports FAST February 7, 2026 8 min read

Sports in FAST Doubled: 220+ Channels and FIFA 2026 as Driver

Sports FAST channels doubled to 220+. Deutsche Telekom launches FAST for FIFA World Cup 2026. Real-time EPG critical for live sports.

Sports FAST Channel Growth

Sports emerged as a major FAST growth category. Sports channels doubled to over 220 channels.

Rights holders now recognize FAST as a viable distribution window — a way to monetize content beyond premium subscriptions.

FIFA World Cup 2026 as Driver

FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America is driving massive investment:

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Deutsche Telekom

40 FAST channels on MagentaTV for World Cup coverage.

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Comprehensive coverage

Sports, entertainment, lifestyle content around the event.

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Advertising push

Major brands buying CTV inventory for World Cup.

Live Sports Migrating to CTV

  • Improved self-serve tools — easier for advertisers
  • Localized audience buying — target by market
  • Better measurement — attribution for sports ads

EPG Requirements for Live Sports

Live sports have strict EPG requirements:

Real-time updates

Schedule changes, delays, overtime.

Accurate start times

Critical for viewer experience.

Team/player data

Metadata for discovery and ads.

Multi-language

Commentary options, territories.

EPG Service for Sports

Launching sports FAST?

EPG Service provides real-time EPG updates, sports-specific metadata (teams, leagues, players), and multi-language support.

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